Meanwhile, Kitzbuehel in the Tirol in Austria was the first non-glacier resort in the Alps to open earlier this month.

It opened on Saturday 13th October and the lucky few were out enjoying the slopes in the sunshine.

Kitzbuhel, Tirol, Austria, 13th October

Many of those out were skiers from local ski clubs.

Kitzbuhel, Tirol, Austria, 13th October

Hintertux, Tirol, Austria

But the early opening is only possible because of snow-farming and the resort's extensive arsenal of snow cannons.

It costs the Austrian resort about $165,000 a season.

"Snow farming is our life insurance," says the head of the resort's snowmaking operations, Josef Burger.

The resort sends up drones in the summer to monitor the covered snow.

"It's great to see the first non-glacier resort in the Alps opening but it should also be pointed out that very few people ski at this time of year and those that do might well head to the glaciers ski resorts in the area," observes the PlanetSKI editor, James Cove.

"Some believe it is all a bit of a PR exercise and others question the cost of it all. However is is still wonderful to see the slopes opening with winter on the way, even though little is fresh snow from the sky," he added.

Note the background!

Already open in the Tirol are Hintertux, Soelden and Pitztal.

One of PlanetSKI's regular readers, Scott Hammond, is currently in Hintertux and has posted the picture below.

He reports conditions as "hard packed".

Hintertux, Tirol, Austria

Kitzbuhel has been snow farming for a number of years, along with a number of resorts in Scandinavia.

While Kitzbuhel is the first in the Alps, the first non-glacier in Europe to open was Ruka in Finland.

It opened on 5th October - the earliest ever for Finland - and snow-farming is why.

Ruka, Finland

Ruka had stored 75,000 cubic meters of the snow from last winter and once the temperatures dropped it spread the snow over a small section of its ski area.

The snow was put into 5 large pits at the end of last winter and a protective covering was placed over it.

It has now been taken out and spread over some of the slopes by the resort's piste bashers.

Moving the farmed snow in Ruka, Finland

Preparing the slopes in Ruka, Finland

Here at PlanetSKI we predict snow-farming is set to grow in order to secure early season openings.

Snow-farming began a decade ago but now the big name resort of Courchevel in Les3Vallees has started to get in on the action.

Snow farming in Courchevel

Courchevel began snow farming for the first time last spring.

The impetus is a major race scheduled for December.

Snow farming in Courchevel

Snow farming in Courchevel

"20,000 cubic metres of snow have been stored under insulation panels and a special tarp on the Emile Allais racing stadium for the next Ladies Alpine Ski World Cup in December," a statement from the resort says.

"It should remain 15,000 cubic metres at the end of November "

Snow farming in Courchevel - the tarpaulin goes on

Courchevel is unusual in using stockpiled snow for a downhill run.

Most of the resorts that have been snow farming for several years have been using the snow to create cross-country tracks or cover small areas at low altitude.

There are different techniques.

While Courchevel is using insulation panels and a large tarpaulin, other areas use recycled sawdust or wood chips.